Tolerance is an obligation in Islamic thought
By Imam Tawhidi*
Tolerance is not something peripheral in Islam. It is deeply rooted in our foundational texts and central to the way we understand our faith. When we turn to the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), we find that tolerance is a principle woven throughout the very message of Islam. It reflects our religion's emphasis on justice, compassion, mercy, and respect for diversity. These are not simply moral aspirations; they are obligations placed upon us, guiding how we interact with others both within and outside our community. The meaning of tolerance is broad and multifaceted, encompassing religious, social, political, and cultural dimensions. It provides a holistic framework for coexistence with individuals of different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds. And importantly, tolerance in Islam is not about passivity or indifference. It is about active engagement, meeting others with integrity, extending to them the dignity we expect for ourselves, and creating space for dialogue and mutual respect. This, to me, is one of the most beautiful expressions of Islam.One of the most compelling foundations of tolerance in Islam lies in the Quranic verse: "There is no compulsion in religion" (Quran 2:256). This verse plays a significant role in the formulation of Islamic jurisprudence in the fields of tolerance and coexistence as it unequivocally establishes the principle that belief in Islam cannot be coerced and that individuals must have the freedom to choose their faith. This message echoes throughout Islamic teachings. Forcing someone to accept a belief undermines the essence of genuine faith, which must be rooted in sincerity and understanding. This verse, and like many others, aims to demonstrate the Quranic principle of recognising human diversity, which is seen as a deliberate creation by Allah Almighty. The life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad serve as a key source of guidance on the principle of tolerance. The Prophet's interactions with people of different religions, cultures, and social statuses provide numerous examples of how tolerance and coexistence were practical realities in society. One of the most notable instances of this is the Constitution of Medina, established by the Prophet after his migration to Medina in 622 CE. This document, often considered the first written constitution in history, laid the foundation for a pluralistic society in which Muslims, Jews, Christians, and polytheists coexisted peacefully. It guaranteed religious freedom, protection, and equal rights for all. It is a testament to how Prophet Mohammad fostered a sense of community that transcended religious differences while promoting justice, compassion, and mutual respect as the basis for coexistence.The Prophet's commitment to tolerance can be seen in his treatment of the Christians of Najran. When a delegation from Najran visited Medina to discuss religious matters, the Prophet not only welcomed them with respect but also allowed them to perform their religious rituals in his mosque. The Prophet's farewell sermon, delivered during his final pilgrimage, further encapsulates the essence of tolerance in Islamic teachings. In this sermon, he emphasised the sanctity of human life, property, and honour, declaring: "All of mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor does a black person have any superiority over a white person; none have superiority over another except by piety and good action." This is the prophetic methodology for establishing absolute equality and the unity of humanity, reinforcing the idea that differences among people should never be a basis for discrimination or animosity.Imam Ali's profound statement - "A person is either your brother in faith, or your equal in humanity" - is a timeless declaration that summarises the essence of universal brotherhood, empathy, and respect for human dignity. It emphasises that every individual is deserving of compassion and equitable treatment. The significance of the statement is even more pronounced in our contemporary era, where the world is increasingly interconnected, but divisions and conflicts persist, based on religion, race, and nationality.If we were to internalise and implement this ethos, societies could build bridges of mutual respect and solidarity and create an environment where every person is valued, protected, and included. And in the end, that's what most humans want - not perfection, but a life lived with dignity, understanding, and peace. The UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, understood this enduring truth and thus made the values of tolerance and coexistence the cornerstone in building the UAE as a model for promoting a culture of coexistence and mutual respect on the global stage.
*The columnist is a Parliamentary Advisor and Research Partner with TRENDS Research & Advisory
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Trump says US and Pakistan have signed trade deal to develop oil reserves
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the US and Pakistan have signed a trade deal focused on the development of oil reserves in the Asian country. Mr Trump, who made the announcement in a post on his Truth Social platform, said his team has been 'very busy' working on trade deals. 'We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead this Partnership,' Mr Trump said of the deal with Pakistan. The Express Tribune quoted Pakistan's Energy Minister Mohammad Ali as saying last year that his country has 235 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas reserves, and 10 per cent of it can be explored with an investment of $25 billion to $30 billion in the next one decade. 'Who knows, maybe they'll be selling Oil to India some day!' the President added in his post. Pakistan and India have a historically tense relationship that boiled over into violence this year in Indian-controlled Kashmir, after more than two dozen people, most of them tourists, were killed by an extremist group. Tit-for-tat strikes between the two countries persisted for about two weeks before a ceasefire was announced. Mr Trump took credit for brokering that ceasefire. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump announced the US would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods from India as well as a 'penalty' for buying Russian energy and military hardware. He accused India of enabling the war in Ukraine through its purchases from Moscow. In his Truth Social post, the President said that he would be meeting with a trade delegation from South Korea to discuss the 25 per cent tariffs the US has levied on Seoul. 'Other Countries are making offers for a Tariff reduction. All of this will help reduce our Trade Deficit in a very major way,' Mr Trump added, adding that a full report 'will be released at the appropriate time'.
The National
19 hours ago
- The National
Can Lebanon's new government finally achieve justice for Beirut blast victims?
August 4 will mark the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion that killed more than 200 people, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever. The families of the victims are still awaiting justice. Earlier this year the magistrate investigating the tragedy, Tariq Bitar, resumed his investigation, which had been suspended after politicians had repeatedly intervened to derail it. The election of Joseph Aoun as president in January, which was followed by the appointment of Nawaf Salam as prime minister, led to much hope that Mr Bitar's efforts would achieve results. They may yet, not least because the magistrate has shown great persistence and courage in moving ahead in his task, but the obstacles remain immense. What is in Mr Bitar's favour is that Mr Salam, a former judge who was president of the International Court of Justice, has committed to pushing forward a plan for the independence of the judiciary. Mr Aoun has also sought to portray himself as a reformer. However, it is almost certain that politics will again complicate matters. Once an indictment threatens the power of Lebanon's political leadership, they will circle the wagons and seek to neutralise the investigation Mr Bitar had cast a wide net on responsibility in his investigation, which rubbed many members of Lebanon's political class the wrong way. Beirut port was a house of many mansions, in which the country's different political factions named their people to positions of influence. In summoning politicians and security figures to see who was responsible for allowing the ammonium nitrate that caused the explosion to be stored at the port, the magistrate provoked alarm and pushback across the political spectrum. In October 2021, Hezbollah and the allied Amal movement took the protests up a notch, in an alarming way. Their partisans organised a demonstration against Mr Bitar before the Palace of Justice, passing by the Christian neighbourhood of Ain Al Remmaneh. On their way, a number of demonstrators entered the neighbourhood, shouting sectarian slogans, provoking a response from young men in the area who killed at least one demonstrator. The decision to enter Ain Al Remmaneh was not fortuitous. A large majority of the victims of the explosion were Christians. By invading a predominantly Christian area and shouting pro-Shiite slogans, the demonstrators wanted to show that if the Bitar investigation continued, it could lead to sectarian conflict. After the shooting of the demonstrators, Hezbollah and Amal returned with their weapons, which could have led to an armed sectarian clash. At just the right moment, however, the army intervened and fired on the armed demonstrators, killing several of them and stopping them in their tracks, which restored calm and prevented the worst. Behind the scenes, the military told those close to it, not unreasonably, that it had averted a new civil war, though it never publicly acknowledged responsibility for firing on the demonstrators. The army commander at the time was Joseph Aoun, the current president. Therefore, between Mr Aoun, who showed great decisiveness in October 2021, and Mr Salam, who supports an independent judiciary, Mr Bitar may have little to fear. Yet the likelihood is the judge will face the same obstacles he did under the government of former prime minister Najib Mikati if Mr Bitar decides to arrest senior politicians. On top of this, we can't ignore that the president or prime minister may have political calculations of their own. For example, while Mr Aoun retains much respect, he has also sought to preserve a good relationship with the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, and with Hezbollah. This makes sense in practical terms, because both still have the power to block many decisions in the country. The president is also keen, under international pressure, to reach a peaceful agreement with Hezbollah over its weapons, therefore wants to avoid anything that might hinder this. Mr Aoun, it also seems, would like to bring a contingent of supporters to parliament in the elections next year. Several of his prospective candidates are well known, and were expelled from the Free Patriotic Movement led by Gebran Bassil. Most of them would require Shiite votes to be re-elected in their districts, namely Baabda, Jbeil, and even the Metn, where solid Shiite voting blocs exist. Would Mr Aoun jeopardise such support if it means backing Mr Bitar's decision to bring in politicians or security figures close to Mr Berri and Hezbollah for questioning? Given his electoral ambitions, and Mr Berri's and Hezbollah's centrality to his other aims, it's not certain. It may be too early to make predictions, although there have been reports that Mr Bitar would like to bring out indictments on the five-year anniversary. But even if indictments are issued, how might the political class react? The port explosion is like Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, in that the negligence and corruption making it possible stretched across the political landscape, so that everyone was in on the crime. We can be certain that once an indictment threatens the power of Lebanon's political leadership, they will circle the wagons and seek to neutralise the investigation. They may not be able to stop Mr Bitar, and it would be foolish at this stage to try, but they might try to find scapegoats and limit indictments to such figures, before closing the file. The wild card here is Mr Bitar himself. He has shown great integrity in pursuing his work, despite the very real risks he has faced. He's not likely to agree to sweep things under the rug. However, many of his superiors may do so. The victims' families would like to see justice, as is their right, but Lebanon is a country where justice has been absent for decades.
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Victim's brother denies pardon for Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, questions legitimacy of negotiations
Gulf Today Report Confusion surrounds the status of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence in Yemen, as conflicting reports have surfaced regarding its cancellation. News agency ANI, citing reliable sources, reported on Tuesday that her death sentence has not been overturned, contradicting earlier claims made by other parties. 'Information being circulated by certain individuals regarding the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate,' the sources told ANI. Despite recent reports hinting at a potential breakthrough in the case of Nimisha Priya, the victim's family has publicly denied any agreement or pardon. Abdul Fattah Mahdi, brother of the murdered Yemeni national Talal Mahdi, issued a strong rebuttal on Facebook, rejecting claims that he had forgiven Priya. He also raised concerns over the credibility of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the case. Mahdi argued that, under Islamic law, granting clemency in murder cases is not permissible. He also criticised the mediators involved in the talks, alleging that they failed to consult or coordinate with Talal's immediate family. Earlier, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar issued a statement claiming that a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, had resulted in the full cancellation of the death sentence, which had previously been suspended. 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was earlier put on hold, has now been completely revoked,' the Grand Mufti's office had said. As of now, there is no official confirmation from Yemeni authorities regarding the reported decision. Priya's family, including her 13-year-old daughter Mishel and her husband Thomas, had travelled to Yemen in support of her case. They were accompanied by Indian Christian evangelist Dr. KA Paul, who has been advocating for her release. Together, they made an appeal to the Houthi authorities for leniency. In an emotional video shared by PTI, Mishel is seen expressing her love for her mother in both Malayalam and English, saying, 'I love you, mamma.' The audio, however, is not clearly audible. Last week, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that it is closely monitoring the case and providing full support to Priya and her family. The ministry also stated that it is coordinating with 'friendly governments' to help resolve the matter diplomatically. Nimisha Priya had been sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national. Her case has drawn significant attention in India and abroad, with calls for diplomatic intervention and clemency on humanitarian grounds.
